THE RNC V.2 - UFC 286 MAIN EVENT PREVIEW: LEON EDWARDS X KAMARU USMAN III THE TRILOGY
IT ISSSSS TIMEEEEEEE TO PREVIEW THE MAIN EVENT FOR UFC 286!
PULL THIS SHIT OUT THE FIRE
“LISTEN, STOP FEELING SORRY FOR YOUR FUCKING SELF. COME ON THEN WHAT’S WRONG WITH YOU. YOU’RE TO FUCKING DOWN. YOU GOTTA PULL THIS SHIT OUT THE FIRE. C’MON LEON MAN, YOU GOT IT MAN. LET’S GO.”
I’m going to be honest.
On paper, UFC 278 in Salt Lake City looked sleepy. So sleepy I opted to watch the card from my phone, at Gramps in Wynwood, while at a buddies birthday. I thought to myself, Main Card is eh, Merab x Aldo should be entertaining, Costa x Rockhold is whatever and the Edwards x Usman fight will go according to plan. Usman was hovering as a -300 (+ 50-75 in some places) favorite at sportsbooks. It seemed like a skippable PPV in my opinion. As usual, I was terribly wrong. Usman x Edwards II ended up being a ‘where were you’ moment. I was at Gramps, watching it with 11 dudes huddled up over a phone on a muggy night in August. The UFC has this strange power to bring 11 dudes to huddle up around a small screen at any event worldwide.
Even after a 15-fight winning streak we have to be reminded, because this sport moves fast, how active and dominant Kamaru Usman was as a UFC Champion in 2021. Noting in 2022 he only had one fight scheduled. Leon Edwards at UFC278.
For those of you who are just getting into MMA and the UFC, I’ll catch you up quickly. The main event went like this:
Leon was down 3 rounds to 1 heading into the 5th and final round. Then this happened.
“LISTEN, STOP FEELING SORRY FOR YOUR FUCKING SELF. COME ON THEN WHAT’S WRONG WITH YOU. YOU’RE TO FUCKING DOWN. YOU GOTTA PULL THIS SHIT OUT THE FIRE. C’MON LEON MAN, YOU GOT IT MAN. LET’S GO.”
That quote, that KO, is almost to good to be true. It was one of the most shocking sports moments that I’ve ever witnessed. sidebar/ quick Tony’s Top 5 of most shocking sports moments I’ve ever seen.
2003 Florida Marlins Game 6 NLCS ( Bartman Game)
2007 SB XLII David Tyree Helmet Catch Over Undefeated Patriots
2017 SB LI New England 28-3 Comeback Over Atlanta
2022 UFC 278 Leon Edwards Headkick to Kamaru Usman KO
2013 NBA Finals Game 6 Ray Allen Corner 3. BANG. INSTANT GOOSEBUMPS.
THAT WAS THEN. THIS IS NOW.
Fast forward to March 2023. Familiar foes meet in the octagon for the trilogy.
I spoke to UFC play-by-play voice Jon Anik this week for a preview of UFC 286. (You can find that on the Friday offering (3/17) of The Dan LeBatard Show With Stugotz Podcast) and right here.
Anik summarized a quote from the great Teddy Atlas who said that when you become Champion you automatically get 20-30% better just by putting on the belt.
Psychologically speaking, I wonder why that happens. Is it the release of stress, the release of a certain anxiety of forcing greatness upon yourself every day - putting your heart, soul, body, mind, strength on the line to achieve a seemingly unattainable goal. Or is it the motivation of fear - reaching the pinnacle and being broken by another fighter, in a sport that requires its champions and legends to surpass human will on the largest platform in sports.
This UFC Welterweight Title fight gives us two story arcs of redemption.
In one corner, the overwhelming champion who was a singular minute away from his 6th straight title defense en route to being one of the most decorated fighters in the sport - and with one head kick was sent to the shadow realm along with his streak and titles defended. He looks to prove that the head kick KO was a Hail Mary by a fighter that isn’t on his level.
In the other corner, an overlooked, passed up time and time again contender who was always on the backburner for the division and promotion. Had multiple fights cancelled and saw other opponents leapfrog him for title shots. A fighter who snatched victory from the jaws of defeat on a sleepy card title fight in Salt Lake City and is determined to show the world that it’s his division now.
I know, it’s a script that seems right out of Hollywood.
MY THOUGHTS.
Kamaru Usman has been there and done that. 15x straight, 5x defending his Welterweight belt. He’s used to this pressure. He’s used to the mental anguish one has to put themselves in training camp after training camp while having a bullseye on their back. He knows the burden it takes to don the Black and Gold trunks befitting a UFC Champion.
Did this KO give Usman the freedom that eludes Champions? The forced time for reflection and perspective - the ability to fall in love with the process again, to remember why he started fighting in the first place.
OR
Does the head kick change him. Does it make him hesitate in a sport where the margin is so razor thin that the same mistake can have the same result on Saturday at the O2.
Can Leon Edwards prove to the world and to HIMSELF that he is the top dog in the Welterweight division. Can he prove that his KO was a byproduct of his preparation and good coaching. Has his mindset shifted? Once you conquer the monster in your nightmare you realize not only how to defeat him, but that you were always stronger than you thought. Will he be able to shoulder the burden that comes with being Champion? The money, the fame, and most of all, the expectations.
Here’s a little taste of the weigh-ins in England.
The Usman x Edwards trilogy is setting up to be THE coronation of the Welterweight division. It can set Usman atop the throne of 170 as a legend, or can catapult Edwards to being one of the most feared men in the sport, with a new outlook on life without chasing the nightmare that is Kamaru Usman.
OFFICIAL PREDICTION:
ANNNDDDDDD
NEW. U DECISION.
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I’ll be back to recap UFC 286 post PPV.
As always, thanks for reading, hanging and supporting.
Much Love!